Friday, August 14, 2009

So I'm aggravated.........

I put in the movie "Personal Effects" last night hoping to be entertained. Instead I was purely put off within the first 1/2 hour. I don't know who directed the movie, but I thought it might be a fairly decent movie since Michelle Pfieffer, Kathy Bates and Ashton Kutcher were in it. The movie infuriated me so much, I shut my eyes and went to sleep. This morning hubby asked, "Do you want me to tell you what happened in the movie?" I replied, "No." I promptly packed that movie up and threw it in the mailbox, off to Netflix it goes. Good riddance. By now I'm sure you're wondering what in the world? I'm about to tell you.

The movie has a good premise. Ashton Kutcher moves back with his mother (Kathy Bates) to help her get over the the murder of his twin sister. While at a group grieving therapy session, he meets Michelle Pfieffer who is there because someone killed her husband. So the more time Ashton spends with Michelle and her son and helps them through their grief, he is helped through his grief as well. That's a great premise. I love that, and definitely find it to be true. The bible even tells us to get the focus of ourselves and put it on others and we will be blessed. So how come I'm so freaking mad at this movie? It's because Michelle's son is portrayed as being deaf. (Whether he is or not in real life I don't know.) So why has this got me so flippin mad? Because they portrayed the "deaf son" as being in special ed, mentally off, stupid, and agressive. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Has the director of this movie or any of the actors never met a person who was deaf? People who are deaf are not special ed material anymore than a hearing person. They are not mentally off, stupid or aggressive anymore than a hearing person. Come on, this portrayal of a deaf person was insulting. People who are deaf are no different than hearing people and for Hollywood to put this mis-information out there infuriates me. I wish that someone out there in La La Land would get a clue and try to portray something accurately. Don't they realize that their stereotypes make it harder for people like my son? Don't they see that those who might see this movie might pick up on this bias and discrimination and classify my son in that category without even knowing him? This crap just gives bullies and other mean-spirited people food to torment with. I'm so freaking upset over this I'm tempted to find out who directed it and send him/her some real information regarding people who are deaf. Can you Hear me?

1 comment:

VBnBama said...

I hear you mama, I've not seen it by the way...and I'm no longer interested in doing so.